CBD vs. THC: Why Is CBD Non-Intoxicating?

Cannabis seems to pop up in news everywhere. Major media Outlets such as Time, Forbes, Newsweek, and others are starting to cover the Cannabis industry. Getting all this attention has helped facilitate education about this widely misunderstood plant.

Cannabis is a plant rich in phytocannabinoids. These are compounds founding cannabis such as CBN, CBG, CBD, and THC.

Every mammal on the planet has an endocannabinoid system. The system works with cannabinoids naturally produced in our body such as an and amide, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. the endocannabinoid system has receptors called CB-1, CB2, and CB3 receptors that are found scattered throughout the body. When these receptors become saturated with cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids increase communication begins to happen between nerves and cells.

When it comes to cannabis, it can become confusing whether or not you will get a buzz from it. You hear about cannabis having THC and CBD. People say that THC is where the high comes from and what gives you the buzz. CBD is reported not to have any kind of intoxicating effects associated with it. So why does THC have a buzz and not CBD?

To get to the bottom of this we’ll dive in for a closer look at exactly what THC and CBD are. Once we understand what they are and what they do, it’s easier to see why CBD doesn’t pack a buzz. Since we know THC packs a punch let’s turn our attention towards CBD and learn a bit about this hempsational phytocannabinoid.

CBD was first discovered during the 1940s go the significance of its Discovery was not understood at the time. It wasn't until the 1990s when Raphael Mechoulam and other researchers began to learn about the endocannabinoid system, that the identification of CBD and its significance were realized. Conventional wisdom placed CBD as a precursor to its cousin delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Cannabidiol better known as CBD is the non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. It is present in both hemp and medical cannabis. CBD is reported to have a plethora of substantial benefits for consumers. Some of those benefits are reduced anxiety, reduce stress, increased blood flow, and stronger bones.

CBD also works as an anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and antidepressant. One thing that CBD won’t do is get you high or intoxicated. CBD has no intoxicating effects because of the lack of its binding affinity to cannabinoid receptors that are part of the endocannabinoid system. Smoke, eat, or drink CBD all day if you’d like, but you won’t catch a buzz.

What is THC?

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short is the active compound or phytocannabinoid found in the cannabis plant that is responsible for its intoxicating effects. THC is found in the cannabis plant. It's percentages very from strain to strain. Some cannabis strains they only contain 6% or 7% THC While others can contain 15% or 25% THC. Medical cannabis would not have any intoxicating effects or carry the buzz that it does if not for the spectacular phytocannabinoid.

THC is a schedule 1 narcotic in the United States under federal regulations. This place is THC as an addictive drug with no medical benefit. This is so far from the truth that it should have been removed from laws years ago. With education increasing about cannabis it's high time we rewrite the Draconian laws and medical journals to incorporate this potent powerful plant medicine into them.

Clearing the Smoke from the Air Around THC and CBD

Previously people viewed cannabis as a drug that would get you stoned, high, or buzzed. No matter how you look at it, cannabis had intoxicating effects. This is not true. Hemp is a variety of cannabis that contains 0.3% or less THC.

You could consume hemp from the time you woke up to the time you went to sleep and never get a buzz. The reason for this is because hemp lacks THC. Instead it's rich in omega’s minerals, and phytocannabinoids like CBD. CBD does not have the binding affinity to activate CB1 or CB2 receptors found in the endocannabinoid system as THC does.

THC on the other hand is a completely different story. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short has a strong binding Affinity to CB1 and CB2 receptors. This causes THC to activate these receptors which are responsible for regulatory functions throughout the body. Functions such as thermal temperature, happiness, and the production of naturally occurring cannabinoids found in our body such as anandamide AKA "The Bliss Molecule."

What’s All the Buzz About If There’s No Buzz?

You might be thinking that if CBD doesn't have a buzz then what good is it. CBD is a growing trend with so many consumers because it is working. Consumers from different walks of life with very different issues are finding relief in CBD they have not been able to find elsewhere. Just because it doesn't pack a buzz doesn't mean it's not good for you.

The medical cannabis movement is much more about medicating so that you can live a higher quality of life rather than living a high life in a buzzed state of being. It is by far not a cure-all but seems to work good enough for enough people to cause a buzz about CBD.

In order to get the best experience from cannabis consumption, veteran consumers have to rely on many different cannabinoids and terpenes working together. Medicine and science seem to want to try to isolate each particular compound to discover its potential. One thing all these researchers seem to miss out on is the healing power the plant has of bringing people together. Positive interaction with another human being is a medicine they can't put in a pill or a bottle.